New York Jets S Marcus Maye hints at number switch for Le’Veon Bell

Le’Veon Bell‘s new jersey will likely bear his trademark number 26, as his New York Jets teammate Marcus Maye has hinted at a change.

While New York number trading is most often found on Wall Street, 1 Jets Drive is seeing numerals exchanged as well.

If Marcus Maye’s Twitter account is any indication, touted running back addition Le’Veon Bell will wear number 26 as a member of the New York Jets. Bell wore the number for five seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the number belonged to Maye in New York.

A Sunday night tweet from the safety, though, hints that he’s willing to part with it.

“That black” more than likely refers to the newly released alternate uniform set the Jets unveiled last Thursday night in Midtown. Nicknamed “Stealth Black”, it will be the first time the Jets have worn black as a primary color.

Bell has appeared to confirm that he’ll keep his number, sharing an altered photo of himself in the Jets’ new “Spotlight White” jersey on Monday afternoon.

If Maye is indeed making the switch, it would reunite him with a familiar set of digits. Maye wore the number for each of his four years at the University of Florida. He’d earn 205 tackles and five interceptions during his term as a Gator.

The Jets would make him their second-round pick in 2017, prompting a number change. Maye’s fellow defender Marcus Williams bore the number on his jersey, but was released in October.

Though Maye could be changing his number, the Jets likely hope he will retain the same tenacity he brought with the number 26. Though he was limited to six games last season, Maye is one of many young talents planting hope in the minds of the Jets and their fans. He has earned 112 tackles and three interceptions over 22 games in his NFL career thus far.